Celebrating Two Years With A Big Announcement

By Cassie Jackson & Kristina Teasley

Two years ago, we embraced vulnerability and launched a nonprofit organization that we knew needed to exist. We really didn’t know what to expect; all we knew was that we wanted to play a part in changing the world. We had personally dealt with suicide loss and our own battles with mental illness. We knew first hand that the stigma surrounding mental health in Montana is devastating. This is one of the biggest factors contributing to our beloved state’s high suicide rates.

Since that day two short years ago, we have had the honor of listening to the stories of so many others. We have heard from people who know the pain of losing a loved one to suicide. We have heard stories from people battling depression, anxiety and addiction. We have people reaching out to us through social media and our website to find support groups, recommendations for counseling, and for an outlet to tell their story.

It’s been the most powerful thing that we have ever experienced. There are so many stories and experiences waiting to be told. When we open a platform for these stories in an open-minded setting, it gives people the opportunity to share without judgement. Of all the things that you can do to make the world a better place, few things are more valuable and beneficial than telling your story.

The powerful stories that are continually shared with us drive us to become deeply invested in removing the barriers our fellow Montanans encounter when trying to access mental health services. We are proud to announce our newest initiative of sponsoring counseling sessions for individuals that can’t afford mental health care. We want to be able to connect thousands of people to free or reduced fee services in their community. We will be rolling out our fundraising efforts for this program during Give Big Gallatin Valley on May 2-3rd from 6pm to 6pm.

We are certainly thankful for everyone that has joined us on this journey. It’s been a privilege beyond what we could ever begin to explain. We’re all in this together. Thanks for being part of our community and the Suffer Out Loud movement.